What is IPsec? A privacy protocol for securing Internet traffic

A beginner-friendly guide to IPsec, what it does, and how to use it for secure connections

6 mins read
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IPsec, short for Internet Protocol Security, is a suite of protocols that encrypt and authenticate data at the IP layer. It’s used to create secure network connections between devices, especially over untrusted networks. Unlike SSL or TLS, which operate at the application layer, IPsec protects all data regardless of the app or service.

If you’ve used a corporate VPN or set up a secure site-to-site connection, you’ve likely used IPsec — even if you didn’t know it. While powerful, IPsec is often best combined with modern privacy tools like NymVPN to enhance anonymity and metadata protection.

About the authors

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Benjamin Nemeroff

Ben is a core member of Nym’s marketing team. He writes about privacy, security, and VPNs, helping users protect themselves from tracking and surveillance.
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Casey Ford. PhD

Technical reviewer
Casey is the Communications Lead, lead writer at Nym, and editorial reviewer at Nym. He holds a PhD in Philosophy and researches the intersection of decentralized technologies and social life.

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